Don't Cry for Me (1954 TV Movie) User Reviews

Brilliant cast, wonderful acting and superb story. Have the tissues handy.

[sintch · 8/10 · 7 September 2015]

Movie begins with a young boy delivering the early morning newspapers on his bicycle in a clean and tidy middle class suburb of the USA. At one house the door is opened by a radiant happy young mother who collects the milk and brings in the cat. Successful civil engineer husband joins her in the kitchen where their 9yr old daughter is reading the newspaper as she eats her breakfast. A very loving and happy family discusses the anticipation of a new baby. Husband leaves for work and wife visits the family doctor for check-up. Is told she is unable to have a baby. Suspects something being with-held. Doctor finally relents and reveals what he was saving for her husband She has untreatable terminal cancer and only 10 months to live. Promising to tell husband she decides to only reveal her infertility. Husband lovingly supports her suggesting adoption. This is magical marriage and loving home. Then another woman enters the story. She is a qualified "draftsman" recommended to husband who has immediate need for her expertise. He reluctantly hires her. Wife travels alone to visit father and friends in San Francisco. Father suspects something wrong as she never travels alone. She conceals it. Then catches up with male friend from youth who has recently lost his wife. He describes how the loss destroyed him until a new love brought back his will to live. She considers this scenario in the context of her own situation. Returns home to discover loving husband spends much time working on sites with new worker. Rumours that they are spending too much time together. After standing her up for a dinner engagement husband confesses to dalliance seeking her forgiveness. Draftswoman is leaving and husband affirms his love for wife. Wife seeks out the woman and forms a friendship designed for her husband after she goes. Puzzled husband agrees to re-hire her but his love is clearly for his wife who is beginning to show signs of sickness. They ready for their trip to Mexico when he discovers she is taking tablets. Suspects something wrong and approaches doctor. Doctor breaks news and he is devastated. Poignant reminder by doctor "she protected you from the pain for the past eight months. Now you be with her for the end". By this time draftswoman has become a close family friend and minds daughter while they travel to Mexico for a romantic celebration of 10 years of marriage. Wife unaware that husband knows. Final scene. Phone rings at home and draftswoman answers it. Tears well in her eyes and she returns to sit with daughter helping her piano lessons.